The on-line museum of North America's independent department stores. The museum holds all sorts of information about classic department stores which either no longer exist, or are changed beyond recognition. A few of them are still with us, and provide an interesting connection to North America's retail past. The others are presented so that they may be properly remembered as a tangible part of the lives of their customers, shopping destinations where memories were often made.

Lamson Brothers, Toledo, Ohio

Read about Lamson's in the new book

by Bruce Allen Kopytek

I WILL BE SIGNING BOOKS

AT BOOKS-A-MILLION IN PERRYSBURG, OHIO

ON NOVEMBER 29th, 2014 FROM 11 am until 1 pm.

Lamson's 1928 store, reminiscent of an Italian Palazzo,at the corner of Jefferson and Huron Streets in Toledo

An illustration, circa 1928, when the store opened,portrayed the lofty main floor of the structure.

23 comments:

As a native Toledoan and a former Lamson's employee, I thank you for this reminder of a bygone time. I always found the architecture of the main store set the tone for your experience as a shopper. It had the most elegant street presence with its arched doors and beautiful windows topped with gorgeous architectural detailing. And upon entering the main floor space, with its high ceiling, it felt like entering another world for this middle class kid. All testament to what good architecture can do enhance our lives.

I used to work in one of the buildings that housed the horse stables for Lampsons back in the late 1800's. This is what some old timers told me back in the 70's when I worked there. You can even see all the "small windows" which were feeding bays for the horses. This building is still standing and in rough shape. It is located at 2018 Adams St. I am helping the current family who owns it restore it to a functioning building again. Not sure as to exactly when Lampsons started but if it were that far back then maybe there is some truth to what I was told. I could post a picture of it if I could. Thanks ................. Tim

My daughter's great grandmother was Miriam Lamson Vinnedge whose father was the last Lamson to be president of the store and husband was the first Vinnedge to be president. Miriam gave me a chair her father purchased on a buying trip to France. He bought 2 chairs, one for Miriam and one for her sister (can't re-member her name) when they were girls. I got the one for her sister. It originally was covered in deep rose damask. When I received it the material was worn through. I had it restored the way it was originally made with horsehair stuffing and all except with a different final material. I love it for so many reasons. I was only in the downtown Lamson's store once. I was struck by the beautiful archi-tecture outside and in and amazed by the open-ness of the first floor. All of the store's items were of the highest quality and I was im-pressed. I was so sad when it became a dis- count store. I was married to Bill Vinnedge when Jules Vinnedge, then Lamson president, was taking the day's receipts to the bank and was murdered trying to protect the money during the robbery outside the bank. The couple got all the money and were later apprehended and convicted. Jules offered to take the money to the bank so the manager who usually took it could leave to celebrate his wedding anniversary. The murder devastated the family, especially his mother, Miriam.

My book has gone to print. It covers the Vinnedge family's involvement with Lamson's and the tragic death of Jules Vinnedge; I have included a photo of little Jules helping his grandfather Julius Lamson break ground for their beautiful 1928 store.

Wendy Towle, a Lamson relative, has held a file of clippings related to Jules' death. May he rest in peace!

Dear Bruce~I just received your book as a gift and feel compelled to thank you and let you know that father was Jules Vinnedge. The store was a major part of our lives as was his loss. In an earlier post, Sandra mentioned my grandmother's sister. Her name was Elizabeth and to me she was "Aunt Bebe". It must be a family tradition to gift family furniture, I held on to Aunt Bebe's writing desk for many years!I look forward to finishing the book.Martha-Lee

OK here you go! It's on top of a Lion's box as well, Not sure when these two date exactly, but I can only assume the Lamson's was before the Franklin Park location. The Lion box probably sometime in the 70's as it lists Southwyck as one of it's locations.http://i.imgur.com/C7XqZmE.jpg

Do you have a copy of the Penny Post Card with the photograph of the Lincoln Car. An inset photo of Abraham Lincoln's head is next to the photograph of the Lincoln Car.The postcard was sponsored by Myron Lamson and his three sons who owned the Lamson Brothers Department Store, Toledo, OH. If so, may I have permission to include the photograph in a scholarly paper titled THE PRESERVATION HISTORY OF THE LINCOLN CAR, 1866-1911.Proper attribution will be given, in the paper, for the source of the postcard

What was the name of the original Lamson Brothers Store that opened in the mid-1880's? What can you suggest for a history of the Lamson Family and Businesses in Toledo ? Are there any remaining Lamson heirs in 2015?

Yes, there are Lamson heirs in the area and retired in Arizona. I plied through the Blade and other sources for history for my book, which I believe at this time is a definitive history of the company. If you email me at bakgraphics@comcast.net I will share your address with those that I know.

Lamson brothers was founded in 1885 as The Lamson Brothers Dry Goods. Co. Prior to the founding, the brothers (2 of them) worked for Cohen & Koch, a predecessor to the Lasalle & Koch Co.

My information shows that Lamson's announced in April, 1976 that the last Lamson's store would close, though the Downtown store closed 2 years Earlier. A more thorough search of the Toledo Blade would perhaps pinpoint a date.

Every week during the late 1960's our mother and her three children would make sure to stop and window shop or go in to shop in the downtown Toledo Lamson's store on Jefferson Street on our way to the "Bach Conservatory" of music. Just wanted to let the Lamson family know how we were enormously appreciated all the architecture and window displays and friendly staff that was there. We have many great memories of the fine shopping we were so grateful to have experienced. One time our mother had pointed out the young Mr. Lamson to us girls. Thankyou very much.

I worked at Lamson's downtown store in the Executive Offices as Secretary to the Vice President, Mr. Chovance. Jules was the President and a joy to be around. Prior to that position, I worked as a buyer assistant to the Jr. Sportswear Buyer. Lamsons was just the epitome of class and customer service. Although I live in California now, I would love a copy of your book. Could you email me so I may make arrangements to purchase? barb@capitalflooringanddesign.com Thank you

I am one of those 3 little girls that nearly every week we’d go to either the Parkway Plaza location or rhe downtown location even the Colony. I was put in a child’s beauty pageant and won the runner up. Lamsons inspired me, later years in my life I owned an antique store outside of Atlanta . Oh how I was Lamsons, Lasalles and Lion store west gate was still here,

About Me

Born in 1958 into an American family with deep Polish roots, I was encouraged at an early age to take education wherever I could get it. I was taken across the country as a child, by my first-generation American parents, to see the wonders of our continent, and several World's Fairs which my parents felt would be educational and fun for our family. All of these things have affected my life in so many ways since then. I achieved a couple of degrees in architecture, and attained licensure in 1990. My specialty in the field is creative design, for which I have received a number of awards and accolades. I am happily married for the second time. I experienced the sadness and pain of being a widower after my first wife passed away suddenly in 1996. I would not be telling the truth if I did not mention how central my Roman Catholic faith was in negotiating such a difficult time. It still is, in fact. I work for Fieldstone A&E and, my free time is spent, learning, researching, writing, cooking, traveling, taking photographs, ballroom dancing, and enjoying my relationship with my wife and family with whom I am extraordinarily close.